Safety ski binder



March 27, 1962 JEAN-JOSEPH A. BEYL 3,027,173

SAFETY SKI BINDER "nf/W9@ CNVENTO manna, SST/IMG( March 27, 1962 JEAN-JOSEPH A. BEYL 3,027,173

SAFETY SKI BINDER Filed Dec. l2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 im: emfof( Qq pum/[AGL SST/(1:46@

March 27, 1962 JEAN-JOSEPH A. BEYL. 3,027,173

SAFETY SKI BINDER Filed Dec. l2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @verm/@Il 'Tem TosePH Aufn?? EYL-I United States Patent n 3,027,173YH SAFETY SKI BINDER l Jean-Joseph Alfred Beyl, Rue des Champs Ferrand,

Nevers, France j Filed Dec. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 780,020 Claims priority, application France Dec. 23, 1957 2 Claims. (Cl. 280`-11.35)

This invention relates to a safety device for binding skis to ski-boots, notably to the front end of the boot of which the rear portion is urged forwards through any suitable means, for example elastic means.

Several safety binders have already been proposed, more particularly for the front end of the boot, for the purpose of releasing the boot and permitting a rotational movement thereof relative to the ski when a considerable torsional stress is applied thereto. As a rule, these devices consist of a check member or jaw pivotally mounted on the ski and held in its inoperative normal position by a mechanical resilient locking system. This system is retractable and adapted to release the rotary check member or jaw when a torsional stress exceeding a predetermined force is applied thereto. p

However, in this case the check memberA Vorjaw becomes completely free to rotate, as well as the boot. Therefore before resetting the shoe the skier must actuate the check member or jaw by hand in order to restore same to its initial position. This operation is frequently unpleasant as the binder is embedded in and coated with snow. p f

However, the main drawback encountered with these known devices lies in the factthat due to the complete release of the boot `immediately as the locking device operates and also to the poor adjustment precision available in these known systems, the skier is compelled to choose among one of the two following imperfect solutions:

Either so adjust the locking mechanism as to cause same to operate under the least torsional effort, which is detrimetnal in that the device might operate `untimely when moderate torsional efforts without any danger are applied thereto, that is, even during normal movements ofthe skier;

Or adjust the locking mechanism very hard to prevent its untimely operation; however, this other solution is also detrimental in that the device will `operate only under IVery considerable stress, so that it might remain inoperative in case of lesser efforts nevertheless likely to be dangerous.

The result is inasmuch unreliable as the locking system is inaccurate and the skier is unable to control with a sufiicient accuracy the adjustment effected beforehand. Under these conditions, the skier must choose between these two solutions, for no precise adjustment can be made to permit the operation of the device exactly when and from the moment when the torsional stresses become dangerous.

Moreover, for a number of relatively moderate torsional values a complete release of the shoe may be considered as an excessive safety measure for a simple partial and momentary rotational movement is frequently sufcient to prevent a dangerous torsion of the foot. Therefore, considering the subsequent inconvenience of resetting the rotary check member or jaw and the boot, the skier is frequently inclined to adjust the locking system very hard, so that this system will not operate in certain dangerous circumstances.

Now it is the object of this invention to permit a simple partial and momentary torsional movement of the boot relativeto the ski,` or vice-versa, in case of relatively moderate torsional eforts, as W'ell as the subsequent automatic return of the rotary check member and of the boot Szlili Patented Mar. 27, 1&52

2 to their relative initial positions. It is also the purpose of this invention to permit a complete rotation of the boot in case of excessive torsional stress and the subsequent automatic return of the rotary check member to its normal position so that the skier may reset his or her boot without having to eliect any preliminary handling of the device. It is an additional object of this invention to permit an accurate and reliable adjustment of the device through a relatively wide range of adjustment positions.

To this end, the invention provides a fro-nt binder consisting essentially of a check member rotatably mounted on a base secured on the ski about an axis at right angles to the ski surface, this device being characterized in that thecheck member is connected to said base through resilient means carried by one of these members and adapted to act upon the other member to keep the check member in its normal position for holding the frorit portion of the boot against movement and restoring same to this position after it has been moved away therefrom under the influence of a torsional effort transmitted by the boot, the mechanical tension of these resilient means being adjustable whereby the torsional effort at which the binder is released may be adjusted at will by the user.

The resilient means interconnecting said check member and the fixed base may advantageously consist of a piston -sliding in a bore formed in one of the two members substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation and responsive `to the action of a relatively strong compression coil spring urging this piston against a camforming plane face provided on an element solid with the other member.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in the practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings forming part of this invention and illustrating diagrammaticaliy by way of example a few embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a part-elevational side View and an axial vertical section showing a ski binder constructed according to the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view from above and fragmentary `horizontal section showing the same device;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are plan views from above with portions shown in horizontal section, showing the diiferent positions of the component elements of the device and of a boot associated therewith, during the operation of the device; p p

FIGURE 5 is a plan View from above and a fragmentary horizontal section showing a different embodiment ofthe device of this invention; and

FIGURES 6 and 7 are sectional views taken upon a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, respectively, of a modified embodiment ofthe device.

The device illustrated in FiGS. l to 4 of the drawings comprises a check member having a body 1 rotatably mounted on a base member 2 secured on the ski S ahead of the positioncontemplated for the front end B of the boot C to be secured on the ski. This check member body is formed with a pair of cylindrical bores 3, 4; extending at right angles to and communicating with each other. The iirst bore 3 extends at right angles to the ski surface and extends through the bottom of body 1, and the other bore extends within an extension 1a of substantially cylindrical shapeconstituting the front portion of the body 1 and extends through the front end of this extension. Inside `the bore 3 is a pin 5 carried by the base 2 and acting as a pivot for the check member body.

Mounted in the bore 4 is a piston or follower 6 carrying a rod 7 having one end slidably mounted in a blind hole 8a of a plug 8 screwed in the correspondingly tapped front end of the bore 4. A compression coil spring 9 surrounds the rod 7 between the piston 6 and plug 8.

The function of this spring is to urge the rear ilat face of the piston 6 against a vertical flat face 5b constituting the bottom of a notch c formed in the pivot pin 5 and registering with the bore 4, as shown. This flat face 5b acts somewhat like a cam and extends in a transverse plane normally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Under these conditions the action of spring 9 tends to hold the piston rod 7 and therefore the extension 1a of the check member body parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski, which corresponds to the normal position of the check member.

The base 2 may be secured on the ski S by means of three screws 10. The check member body 1 is on the other hand fastened on the base 2 by the fact that the piston 6 is engaged in the notch 5c formed in the pivot pin 5 solid therewith. The check member body is thus properly and reliably guided during its rotational movements by the base and by the end of the pin 5 journalled in the walls of bore 3.

The rear end 1b of the check member body is yokeshaped and its two arms extend horizontally in superposed relationship. IBetween these two arms is a rod 11 formed with a screw-threaded intermediate portion but having its two plain ends journalled each in one arm of the yoke, as shown, the upper end of the rod 11 being provided with a knurled button 11a to permit its rotation by hand for adjustment purposes as will be set forth hereafter. This rod carries a crescent-shaped toeretainer member 12 adapted to fit against the front end or tip B of the boot, the threaded portion of the rod 11 being screwed in a tapped hole formed through this member 12. Under these conditions, when the skier rotates the knurled adjustment button 11a he or she may adjust at will the height or vertical position of the crescentshaped member 12 as a function of the normal level of the front end of the shoe. The curved or rear face of the crescent-shaped member 12 is formed with a pair of vertical ribs or like projections 12a adapted to exert a pressure against, and slightly penetrate in, the material of the front end of the boot sole. This curved face is also formed with an upper bead 12b adapted to bear against the upper face of the front portion B of the boot sole, as shown.

The front end of the crescent-shaped member 12 is formed with a small recess 12C engaged by a small piston or holder 13 urged thereagainst by a spring 14 and carried by the rear end or" the check member body 1 formed to this end with a blind bore, as shown. Thus, the spring 14 normally urges the crescent-shaped member 12 to its normal position, as shown in FIG. 2.

This front check member device may be used in combination with any other suitable means for binding the rear portion of the boot and tending to urge this rear portion against the front check member. However and preferably the device of this invention is used in combination with rear fixation means mounted themselves on a pivoting plate 15 (FIGS. 3, 4) supporting the heel of the ski boot and rotatably mounted on the ski so as to rotate about a theoretical vertical axis O. These fixation means may consist for example of two coil compression springs 16 extending laterally and interconnected by a ring bow 17 carrying in turn a pivoting lever 18 mounted on eccentric pivots for tensioning these iixation means by an overcenter action.

Thus, the boot may pivot if necessary about the axis O under its heel. A plate 19 carried by the ski may be provided under the front portion of the boot to Ireduce the friction during a rotational movement of the boot.

As already set forth hereinabove, the component elements of the device according to this invention are normally in their inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 due to the pressure exerted by the spring 9 against the piston 6 to urge same against the flat face Sb. The ski boot may be fitted very easily 'on the ski by pressing its front end B against the crescent-shaped member 12 held by the spring 14 in the proper position and previously adjusted to the proper vertical position by rotating the knurled button 11a. Then, the rear tensioning means are operated and the boot is perfectly held on the ski, the check member body 1 being held in position by the spring 9.

However, should the skiers foot exert an accidental torsional stress of considerable value, that is, a stress capable of compressing the spring 9, the latter will yield somewhat and the boot may thus pivot about the center O. The rotary check member and the boot C will then rotate in opposite directions, for example as shown by the arrows f1 and f2. During this rotation or at least during the initial portion of the pivoting movement, the crescent-shaped member 12 remains solid with the front end B of the boot and is caused to rotate relative to the check member in the direction of the arrow f2. The front end of the boot will thus remain coupled with the rotary check member, at least during the initial portion of the rotational movement just described, that is, as long as the angle of rotation of the boot remains below a (see FIG. 4), which is the angular value to be attained for causing the boot to be released from the ski.

If the torsional stress is relatively moderate, it may cause a partial rotation of the boot for example through an angle 'y (see FIG. 3).. If this angle is smaller than a, the boot will remain coupled with the rotary check member and when this torsional stress is discontinued, the rotary check member is restored to its initial position by the spring 9 while rotating the boot in the opposite direction and restoring it to its initial position as well. However, the possibility of this partial rotation of the boot is suicient to avoid the dangerous consequences likely to derive from a torsional movement even of relatively moderate importance. It should be noted in this respect that the crescent-shaped member 12 is also automatically restored to its initial position, due to the action exerted by the spring 14.

On the other hand, if the torsional stress is relatively important or extended, it will cause the boot to rotate through an angle greater than a. When the boot exceeds this angle a its front end is released completely from the crescent-shaped member 12 and the latter is restored immediately to its initial position by the spring 14. Under these conditions, the boot is released completely, there by eliminating any risk of accident. Of course, the rotary check member will also automatically resume its central or normal position under the influence of the spring 9. Thus, the skier is again able to tix the boot on the ski without having to actuate the device by hand for restoring the rotary check member to its normal position or giving the proper angular position to the crescentshaped member 12.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified form of embodiment of the ski-binder according to this invention, in which piston 6 cooperates with a stationary cam face. In this alternate form the rear face of the rotary check member 1 is not provided with a pivoting crescent-shaped member 12. It is simply formed with a tooth 22 adapted to engage a notch 23, of corresponding dimensions, formed in the center of a metal member 24 fastened on the front edge B of the boot sole. The dimensions of the tooth 22 and notch 23 are such that the tooth remains engaged in the notch during the initial portion of the rotational movement of the boot and of the rotary check member, for example as long as the rotational angle concerned does not exceed a predetermined value.

Thus, the front portion of the boot and the rotary check member will remain in relative engagement as long as the amplitude of the relative angular movement of these two elements remains lower than this predeter mined angle. Besides, the front portion of the boot isreleased completely when this angle of rotation is exceeded. The operation of this `device is therefore the same' as in the preceding embodiment.

In either example it is therefore possible to adjust the device at will to cause its operation, that is, the release of the boot from the ski, when a predetermined value of the torsional stress applied by the skiers foot is attained. To this end, it is sutiicient to screw in or out the plug 8 provided for adjusting the pressure of the coil compression spring 9. The resilient means for holding the rotary check member in position affords a greater precision and a greater range of adjustment than any other of the known safety locking systems proposed for holding the front ends of skiboots. With the device of this invention the skier is not tempted to set the device too hard to avoid the untimely operation or release action in the case of moderate torsional stresses or lateral shocks. On the contrary, the skier may accurately and easily adjust the device to cause same to operate safely immediately when the effort is likely to be dangerous. In fact, if the foot is subjected only to relatively moderate torsional eiforts or lateral shocks, the boot will effect but a partial and momentary rotational movement and will be restored automatically to its normal position by the rotary check member without however releasing the foot and compelling the skier to -tix up his or her boot again.

FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings illustrate another embodiment of the device of this invention. In this case, the arrangement of the component elements of the return members and check member is inverted. Thus, the piston 6 and its rod 7, as well as the return spring 9, are mounted in a bore 4a formed in the stationary base member 32 of the device and closed by a plug 8. The flat bearing surface 5b for the piston consists in this case of the bottom of a notch 5c' formed in a pivot pin 5 carried by the body 31 of the rotary check member, this pin engaging a bore 3a formed in the stationary base 32.

Asin the case illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the rear portion of the body 31 of the check member is yoke-shaped and has mounted between its arms a threaded rod 11 carrying a pivoting member 12 also crescent-shaped and adapted to receive the front end of the boot. This crescent-shaped member is held in position by a piston 13 urged by a spring 14, as shown.

The operation of this modiiied form of embodiment of the device is the same as that of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. In fact the piston 6 urged by the spring 9 tends to hold the check member body in a position to cause this member in turn to hold the boot in its normal position. If the torsion-al stress exceeds the spring force, the spring will yield somewhat and the check member body will rotate more or less (see FIG. 7). In all cases the spring 9 will subsequently return the check member to its initial position.

Of course, many modifications may be brought to the few forms of embodiment shown, described and suggested herein, without however departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as Set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A safety binder for the toe end of a ski boot, comprising a base secured on the top face of the ski, a pivot pin rigid with, and extending at right angle to said ski face, a check member body of elongated coniiguration comprising a vertical central bore opening into its lower face and rotatably tting on said pivot pin, coupling means for drivingly interconnecting the rear end of said body with the toe end of the boot, said coupling means being automatically releasable in case of excessive lateral stress applied thereto by the boot, a cam member having a plane transverse face extending substantially at right angles to said base, said transverse cam face being formed in the bottom of a transverse notch on the front of said pivot pin, said notch comprising a top wall and a bottom wail both extending at right angles to the axis of said pivot pin, a piston having a flat rear face which is slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore formed in said check member body so as to register in its normal position with said notch in said pivot pin, means for resiliently urging said rear face of said piston against said cam face, the rear portion of said piston engaging, and being guided by, the top and bottom walls of said notch, whereby a limited rotation in either direction of said check member body about said pivot pin in conjunction with said piston will cause said piston to Slide in .said longitudinal bore under the influence of the vertical edges of said cam face which engage the rear face of said piston while compressing said resilient means tending automatically to return said check member body to its axial position, the rear end of said piston being constantly guided and engaged by said top and bottom walls of said notch during its rotation, thereby retaining said rotary check mem.- ber body on said base without the assistance of other fastening means.

2. A safety binder for the toe end of a ski boot, comprising -a base secured on the top face of the ski and formed with an elongated projection having a bore formed therein at right angles to said base, said bore opening into the upper face of said projection, a rotary pivot pin housed in said bore and rigid with a rear member comprising coupling means for drivingly interconnecting the rear end of said body with the toe end of the boot, Said coupling means 'being automatically releasable in case of excessive lateral `stress applied thereto by the boot, a cam member having a transverse face extending substantially at right angles to said base, said cam face being formed in the bottom of a transverse notch on the front of said pivot pin, said notch comprising a top Wall and a bottom wall extending both at right angles to the pivot axis, a piston having a dat rear face which is slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore formed in said projection so as to register with said notch of said rotary pivot pin in its normal position, means for resiliently urging said rear face of said piston against said cam face, the rear portion of said piston engaging, and being guided by, said top and bottom walls of said notch, whereby a limited rotation in either direction of said rotary pivot pin in said bore, in conjunction with said cam face formed in the bottom of said notch, -will cause said piston to slide in said longitudinal bore of said projection under the iniluence of the vertical edges of said cam face acting against said rear face of the piston while compressing said resilient means tending automatically to restore said rotary pivot pin to its normal position, the rear end of the piston being constantly guided and engaged by said top and bottom walls of said notch during its rotation, thereby retaining said rotary check member on said base without the assistance of other fastening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,676,813 Beyl Apr. 27, 1954 2,858,137 Marker Oct. 28, 1958 2,867,446 Rehacek Ian. 6, 1959 2,867,447 Mueller June 6, 1959 2,899,210 Marker Aug. 11, 1959 FCREIGN PATENTS 543,150 Italy -.-f-,q-...s May 16, 1956 

